Five Ways to Keep Your Belongings Safe at Festivals

1 month ago 12

Keeping your gear protected is an important part of having the best time at a festival. These tips will help you keep the party going while keeping your things safe.

Festivals are all fun and games until you reach into your pocket to capture the moment, only to realize your phone is not where you left it. Or imagine getting back to your car after spending all day dancing your heart out, only to realize your windows are smashed.

Whether you’re new to the festival scene or a seasoned veteran, we have all either experienced this heartbreak or know someone who has. Losing something like your phone, ID, or cash can shift your weekend plans in an instant. At that point, you have to worry about finding or replacing your belongings, which makes you feel confusion, anger, and sadness.

As much as we want to believe PLUR is the blueprint for everyone at a festival, some people miss the point. In recent years, there has been an increase in reported pickpockets and stolen items as thieves prey on unsuspecting party-goers.

To help you stay one step ahead, we have compiled some advice as part of our Festival Tips series to help keep you and your valuables safe during festival season. Although we cannot guarantee your stuff won’t be stolen, these tips will help lower the chances and give you peace of mind. Remember: If you ever see something suspicious, trust your instincts, speak up, and immediately inform security or police of what you witnessed. Your vigilance helps keep everyone safe.

Five Ways to Keep Your Belongings Safe at Festivals

Photo Courtesy of Lunchbox

Avoid putting valuables in compartments that someone in a crowd can easily unzip.

Instead, store them in a secure location on your person, such as a front pocket, runner’s belt, or concealed pocket. A runner’s belt or traveler’s wallet is easy to hide under your outfit and provides a secure place to hold essentials like ID’s, cash, phones, and keys discreetly. Clothing with buttoned pockets, such as cargo shorts or jackets, can also provide that extra layer of security that zippers cannot.

Many new hydration packs are now designed with security in mind as well. Brands like Lunchbox offer hidden compartments and anti-theft features, like zippers with clips that don’t face the exterior, cut-resistant material, and phone pockets that fit your device tightly, making it more difficult for thieves to access your valuables while you enjoy your event. The main hydration packs are also customizable, with interchangeable skins and LED lights that can connect to create a personalized light show.

Many new hydration packs are now designed with security in mind. Lunchbox Packs has been a favorite brand for many festival attendees, as their line of anti-theft packs comes standard with anti-theft zipper clips, no external-facing zippers, cut-resistant material, and dedicated mesh phone pockets that safeguard your devices snugly, making it more difficult for thieves to access your valuables and giving you peace of mind during your event. Their popular hydration packs are also customizable with interchangeable skin designs and flexible lights that you can string onto your pack for a personalized light show.

While Lunchbox’s Hydration Packs are most commonly seen at festivals, they also offer a variety of other styles for different preferences and event types, including a hydration sling, sling crossbody pack, mini backpack, and fanny style pack. These compact bags are fashionable yet still provide enough storage to keep all your essentials safe, and they carry the same anti-theft enhancements as the hydration packs.

Photo Credit: Ivan Meneses and Restless Media

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Staying alert and looking out for each other are good practices when among big crowds. If you or anyone in your group feels uncomfortable in your area, don’t hesitate to move to a different space.

If you’re keeping belongings on the floor while you relax or dance your heart out, designate someone to keep an eye on them. This simple step can deter theft and also prevent others from tripping over your items.

Photo Credit: Insomniac Events

Rent a locker for you and your rave family.

More festivals and events across the country now offer lockers you can rent for a single day or the entire weekend. These lockers are typically large enough to fit your hydration pack, a jacket, and other items like merch you might not want to carry around while moving and grooving to the beat. Some even offer charging capabilities, giving you a place to charge your phone or a spare external battery while you’re exploring the grounds.

Lockers are one of the most secure places to store your items at a festival. Take a picture of the locker you’re given and the combination on your phone, then text it to your crew so you have a backup in case you forget where it is later.

Photo Credit: OUTXE

Treat your phone the same way you would treat cash or other valuables.

As more events go cash-free, our phones have become a one-stop shop for daily essentials, including IDs, payment apps, and tickets. Phones have become lifelines, and you want to keep them safe.

Don’t set your phone down somewhere you can’t keep an eye on it; it is the perfect opportunity for thieves to swipe it. Non-slip phone cases from companies like Spigen or Speck make it harder for people to snatch up your phone.

When you are walking or dancing, it can also be easy to drop your phone. Consider buying a retractable phone tether that secures your phone to a bag, lanyard, or belt.

Photo Credit: Electric Forest

Take note of where you parked so it’s easy to find your way back at the end of the night.

When parking your car at an event, or even when you camp, make sure you are aware of your surroundings. If possible, park in a well-lit area with security, preferably in an official lot. If you have any valuables in your car, hide what you can out of sight, whether it’s under the seats, in the trunk, or in the glove box.

Before you go into the festival, take photos of anything that can serve as a reminder of where you parked, including any nearby signs, section markers, lot numbers, or landmarks. Having a visual reference can make it easier to find your car later. Pinning your car location on your phone or using an AirTag or Tile in your car could also give you its precise location.

Photo Credit: Kristin Valdivia (@valdiviakristin)

Camping at a festival? Here are some bonus tips!

Don’t bring anything of extreme value or priceless items that you can’t afford to lose. Keep those items safe at home.

Consider buying a small, TSA-style lock for your tent zipper. While it may not stop someone determined to get inside, it can reduce the likelihood of someone entering. If you are car camping, hide any valuables inside your car and out of sight.

While you sleep, keep your valuables close to your head or in your sleeping bag. Thieves have been known to reach into tents and grab accessible items easily without waking you.

Dive into the PLUR of it all and make friends with your neighbors! Creating a little community within your immediate camping neighborhood can create a space where everyone looks out for each other.